Support for TMT
Support for TMT
My name is Gardner De Aguiar, and I am a Native Hawaiian who has lived all his 51 years on these islands of Hawaii.
I wanted to be present this Thursday at the University of Hawaii Board of Regents meeting to voice my opinions on the Thirty Meter Telescope. Unfortunately, because of prior scheduled appointments, I was unable to do so, and I apologize for that. Instead, I am writing you this testimonial letter.
I am in support of the building of the Thirty Meter Telescope. I endorse it in the spirit of my ancient ancestors. Our ancestors were people of discovery, traveling the seas and using the stars to navigate, as well as enjoy the beauty and wonder of these stars.
Our Queen Lili‘uokalani saw this as well, as she said in Kumulipo: “The ancient Hawaiians were astronomers, and the terms used appertained to the heavens, the stars, terrestrial science, and the gods.”
I feel that, somewhere along the way, our people have lost this sense of discovery and will to venture. We have become complacent and … place our energies in endeavors that only serve to divide us more. I also feel that this issue has taken on more of a political agenda, rather than concern for the betterment of our people.
The journey of discovery reflects the ways of our ancestors and should be a key goal for the Hawaiian people living today.
We need to get over the past injustices we have suffered and channel this into progressing our people in the global theater, and I feel the Thirty Meter Telescope is a step in this direction.
Gardner De Aguiar
Hilo
To the stars
The Mauna Kea controversy fills me with sadness. I can’t help but view it through the truth that Hawaii was stolen from its people a little more than a century ago.
Yet, don’t many kanaka Hawaii start their events with prayers to “God” or “Lord” or Jesus, rather than to Kane or Ku or Lono? Either way, there’s a strong belief in both cultures in divine creation of the heavens — whose stars have been so friendly to Hawaiian voyagers old and new — as well as of everything else.
So, why should exploration of that amazing reality be seen as a desecration, rather than part of a search for greater understanding and appreciation of the universe we find ourselves in? Isn’t there a way we can come together to construct that telescope without it being seen as detracting from Hawaiian values but, rather, allowing us to voyage not just BY the stars, but TO the stars?
Kelly Pomeroy
Waimea